tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564155214348055642.post876753199286636987..comments2023-10-12T06:48:28.266-07:00Comments on Aviation Critic & Enthusiast: Read'n, Writin', and... Riveting ??Phil Bellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02845059507310419482noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564155214348055642.post-87733890980573784442010-02-04T10:02:16.827-08:002010-02-04T10:02:16.827-08:00I'm a bit late to the party but had to comment...I'm a bit late to the party but had to comment.<br /><br />"So what if you don't have time for the classes- but If you're like me, the topics sound really interesting?"<br /><br />Any reason you can't take just a class or two? We have a local A&P program here as well. It looks pretty intensive, and many are during the day which won't be feasible for those of us with jobs. I certainly don't NEED an A&P cert for my career, but looks like after two introductory classes I can take almost all of the powerplant classes one at a time. I'm considering it anyways.<br /><br />Agree with the others who've suggested getting this and then going on to get a BSME at a later date, but I think it also might be useful for those with BSME's and not as much mfg or hands on experience. Both sides of the coin, you know.FrauTechhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03466617977964303158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564155214348055642.post-822837585986573652010-01-24T20:32:25.140-08:002010-01-24T20:32:25.140-08:00New headline post is up!New headline post is up!Phil Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02845059507310419482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564155214348055642.post-43048286988413352752010-01-24T17:35:01.380-08:002010-01-24T17:35:01.380-08:00And back to the thread's main focus - educatio...And back to the thread's main focus - education in aviation.<br /><br />Phil, I think to be complete, you should mention that Embry-Riddle has announced the start of the first PhD in Aviation.<br /><br />So now you can REALLY be a "plane doctor".<br /><br />There you have it - perhaps one of those doctors will teach Cessna how to do aerodynamic modeling correctly on 125 kts airplanes. This way they won't have to keep on blindly changing the ruder and elevator of the 162 over and over again, while they keep on spinning to the ground.Baron95https://www.blogger.com/profile/01421355643916832199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564155214348055642.post-36773771899080154372010-01-24T17:00:59.631-08:002010-01-24T17:00:59.631-08:00Well, Eclipse Aerospace is actually doing much bet...Well, Eclipse Aerospace is actually doing much better than anyone else here thought.<br /><br />They have secured occupancy of the ABQ facilities for 3+ years, and, according to their Dec 21 note, they accomplished some meaningful milestones<br /><br />(below from EAI Customer Communication Dec 21, 2009), 4 months after acquisition1. <br />-------------------<br />We now have approval not only to source parts from current inventory but also from suppliers<br />as well. Almost all parts can now be ordered via our website parts order system. (Except for<br />PhostrEx, discussed below).<br />2. Our ABQ Service Center is now operational and 8 planes are undergoing upgrades including<br />our first to incorporate the EASA configuration changes.<br />3. Our Chicago Service Center is now delivering the first group of upgraded aircraft.<br />4. EAI now has an FAA approved, factory sponsored Recurrent Pilot Training and FIKI/ 1.5<br />Differences Training courses.<br />5. The Bias-Ply tire Service Bulletin is now complete and can be ordered along with tires directly<br />from EAI. Please contact Customer Care to place an Order for the New Bias Ply Tire Kit.<br />--------------------<br /><br />Sounds like a decent start, give then deck they inherited.Baron95https://www.blogger.com/profile/01421355643916832199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564155214348055642.post-63064151165372878002010-01-24T15:49:06.305-08:002010-01-24T15:49:06.305-08:00EAP,
I was in a meeting the other day, when someo...EAP,<br /><br />I was in a meeting the other day, when someon piped up about VLJs... they were on the investment banking side, and were involved with yet another VLJ company.<br /><br />Someone mentioned Eclipse, and I almost burst out laughing. ALL the intel was wrong. ALL of it was misinformation... ALL of it was none-sense.<br /><br />So, it does not surprise me one bit, that someone bought the "assets" of EAC... and some folks over paid for scrap at the auction.<br /><br />Its sad, but true that many folks do not have a clue.<br /><br />Just read this blog, you'll see the log, and at leat YOU <br />won't get screwed.airtaximanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12977944795556689805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564155214348055642.post-18639885343298491502010-01-24T09:47:25.134-08:002010-01-24T09:47:25.134-08:00The city of ABQ should go talk with the city fathe...The city of ABQ should go talk with the city fathers of Vero Beach, Florida. There the previous management of Piper screwed Vero, Indian River County, and the state of Florida to the wall for millions of dollars lest Piper move the production site, and jobs, of the(now defunct) Piper Jet elsewhere. It was a hollow threat to begin with, which everyone over the age of twelve realized. <br /><br />The current management of Piper has just signed a deal with a Czech firm to import a "sport" airplane that will not result in one new job in Vero Beach. Piper screwed the non-union work force, half of whom is laid-off, and every single taxpayer in the city, county and state where it does business.<br /><br />There is not a chance in hell of the Eclipse line being restarted in ABQ or anywhere else. This is a plan of the Charleston, SC, pharma dude to lessen his expenses until they can off load this turkey onto a greater fool.airsafetymanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07923869957339462116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564155214348055642.post-81519679942893915312010-01-24T08:04:08.354-08:002010-01-24T08:04:08.354-08:00Meanwhile I was remiss at keeping up with local ec...Meanwhile I was remiss at keeping up with local eclipse news...(my apologies I had been watching for this until I got side tracked with the thought of possible salary reductions for state employees.)<br /><br />Silly me.<br /><br />Floating Cloud<br /><a href="http://www.kob.com/article/stories/S1370681.shtml?cat=516" rel="nofollow">rent for employees</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.krqe.com/dpp/news/business/albuquerque-oks-trading-eclipse-land-for-rent" rel="nofollow">the deal</a>Floating Cloudhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05299351963639492717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564155214348055642.post-29770615013582491242010-01-24T00:17:22.378-08:002010-01-24T00:17:22.378-08:00The “Former Eclipse Aviation” auction played out t...The “Former Eclipse Aviation” auction played out today. According to an auctioneer, the cash raised is going to the building’s landlord, to satisfy claims of back rent due, and perhaps pay for the substantial flood damage to the building. <br /><br />What was sold? Lots of large assembly jigs, test equipment, office furniture, and miscellaneous manufacturing minutia.<br /><br />What wasn’t sold? Mills, lathes, welders, etc. When asked about this high-dollar equipment, an auctioneer said it had been earlier delivered to Texas, to satisfy a legal judgement.<br /><br />Good news for the landlord. A large group of newbie bidders seriously overpaid for the minutia. Bags of cement, which sell for $3 at Home Depot, sold for $7.50. Cheap metal cabinets that usually sell for $5 - $10 at these auctions, sold for $50 - $70. Interestingly, most of the jigs, some of which must have cost $10,000+ to build, sold for their scrap metal value. The expensive office furniture sold for a small fraction of retail. <br /><br />While wandering the offices, I noticed handwritten notes on dry-erase boards, that suggested the final days were a bit acrimonious. I suspect the loss of so much specialized manufacturing equipment will have an impact on any attempt to restart manufacturing.<br /><br />Not much of an auction, but I did find an item that I just had to get for Shane. If someone could help me with an address, I’ll get it en route.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564155214348055642.post-84507044487409310212010-01-23T16:54:30.416-08:002010-01-23T16:54:30.416-08:00"Piper has entered a licensing agreement that..."Piper has entered a licensing agreement that sees the Czech Republic-based manufacturer build its three 100hp Rotax-powered SportCruiser variants under the PiperSport banner."<br /><br />I think Piper management have lost their minds. They STOPPED building the highly successful PA-18 that was in high demand by forest service, law enforcement, bush pilots, and sport-oriented pilots in general. The PA-18 is certified and is cleared for spins and moderate aerobatics at a weight of 1500 pounds or less. The airplanes are routinely fitted with skiis, floats, tundra tires, regular tires, and back to floats in the course of a year in the rough. Try that in a PiperSport? The airplane was in such demand that another company - CUB Crafters - was formed just to answer the demand and is producing an auguably better airplane. I'm sure the engineers at Piper could produce a PA-18 fully compliant with all LSA weight and performance regs in very short order but nooooooo, "management" decided to go to the Czech Republic and take a stroll down uncertified lane. For a POS you can't even spin?airsafetymanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07923869957339462116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564155214348055642.post-19973389755516165862010-01-23T13:53:21.777-08:002010-01-23T13:53:21.777-08:00you guys forgot $3500 or so in annual real estate ...you guys forgot $3500 or so in annual real estate taxes on the home...<br />;)airtaximanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12977944795556689805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564155214348055642.post-65483114671321830982010-01-22T14:40:57.495-08:002010-01-22T14:40:57.495-08:00While most of the comments thus far have gotten aw...While most of the comments thus far have gotten away from Phil's original post about what it takes to become an A&P, one thing remains certain: since the days of Orville and Wilbur, when Charles Taylor tweaked the engine on the Wright Flyer, no pilot ever went anywhere until a mechanic told him the ship was good to go.<br /><br />Today's course outline looks much the same as it did when I went through 40 years ago. Although I chose to pursue a career as a pilot rather than as a mechanic, there is no doubt in my mind that getting my A&P early in my career helped me out a very great deal. It opened several doors along the way, including corporate and flight engineer jobs that required the A&P as a condition of employment.<br /><br />One thing Phil failed to mention is that after getting the A&P, it takes at least 3 years of additional training and experience, and additional study and testing, to get an Inspection Authorization as a mechanic. It requires an IA (or a repair station) to sign off a Major Repair, a Major Alteration, or an Annual Inspection.<br /><br />I am fortunate enough to fly the Boeing 777 for a major US air carrier, but having the A&P and IA makes owning and flying my own airplane affordable as well. If I couldn't do the maintenance myself, I'd have to operate a much simpler airplane, or do without...<br /><br />For anyone who wants to make a career in aviation, I'd strongly recommend getting the A&P at the earliest opportunity. It was the best thing I ever did for my career.Sparkyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15629048111526329371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564155214348055642.post-13614267548496681562010-01-21T21:55:58.059-08:002010-01-21T21:55:58.059-08:00And you can bid on the airframe of the Airframe o...And you can bid on the airframe of the <a href="http://cache-03.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/12/2010/01/500x_us_airways_flight_1549.jpg" rel="nofollow"> Airframe of US 1549</a><br /><br />Slight water damage may be present.Baron95https://www.blogger.com/profile/01421355643916832199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564155214348055642.post-65368583278271856402010-01-21T21:52:46.472-08:002010-01-21T21:52:46.472-08:00Here is a topic for you Phil.
Lets map out the av...Here is a topic for you Phil.<br /><br />Lets map out the average age of planes on US network carrier fleets against their competitors.<br /><br />Then we map out average employee age.<br /><br />Then we map out salaries (including all the pension stuff, etc) and work rules.<br /><br />Then we project the consequences to their competitiveness, profitability, market share, years remaining in business.<br /><br />Of course, we need to figure in the un-avoidable bailout of the airline unions, which will be gifted the companies, blah, blah, blah, you know the story.Baron95https://www.blogger.com/profile/01421355643916832199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564155214348055642.post-8022493754502338112010-01-21T21:47:47.321-08:002010-01-21T21:47:47.321-08:00And it looks like LAN (from Chile) will be the fir...And it looks like LAN (from Chile) will be the first airline in the Americas and Western Hemisphere to operate the 787!!!!<br /><br />How about that - congrats to Boeing and LAN.<br /><br />Is this the first Boeing airliner that will be flying for years before a single US-flagged airliner start operating one?<br /><br />It is amazing. A third-world airliner taking the lead, because not a single decrepit US-based airline is in financial condition to pay for new jets.<br /><br />I'll have to endure a few more years of AA sprucing out the interior of their 767s. Well, except when flying south, given that LAN is part of OneWorld (me thinks).Baron95https://www.blogger.com/profile/01421355643916832199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564155214348055642.post-26878643873189147242010-01-21T21:39:42.690-08:002010-01-21T21:39:42.690-08:00Back to Aviation....
Piper is entering the LSA ma...Back to Aviation....<br /><br />Piper is entering the LSA market, in good fashion by licensing and reselling a foreign designed and built plane powered by a foreign designed and built engine.<br /><br />Congrats to CSA and Rotax.<br /><br />Piper has entered a licensing agreement that sees the Czech Republic-based manufacturer build its three 100hp Rotax-powered SportCruiser variants under the PiperSport banner.Baron95https://www.blogger.com/profile/01421355643916832199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564155214348055642.post-78736181875753543542010-01-21T19:05:52.274-08:002010-01-21T19:05:52.274-08:00Gentlemen:
Thank you once again, you all got it a...Gentlemen:<br /><br />Thank you once again, you all got it and made my day! Baron, even you came through with “flying” colors as usual.It was when my girlfriends at work and I (who are all dedicated to the greater good and education for all on God’s earth, Gadfly) actually did laugh at how are hair looked yesterday realizing that all three of us had “cut back”’ on our visits to the salon. Reality is not kind, that is for sure, but we deal. <br /><br />Billy e. Goat, you win numbers game and came closest to my scenario --except all of you forgot that some of us bought a house three years ago at let’s say 165,000 for a cute starter home in Albuquerque. Now it’s worth 150,000and then you can’t refinance and get that glorified 5.00 % or less rate. No cable, never thought it was worth anything (got the converter box with coupon), but I do have a blog, and a soap that I record for free entertainment. Netflix = 13.99 per month. Got a fully loaded and paid for 96 Volvo 960 with heated leather seats and only 80,000 miles, so no car payments, but a fair amount of money goes into maintenance and tires as I travel around the state to remote areas. <br /><br />It is NOT good however, that educated professional men and women who are giving back to society are being pushed over the edge. Shane, if you would be so kind to explain banshees... No one wants to see one, let alone a whole world of them.<br /><br />Love you guys,<br /><br />Floating CloudFloating Cloudhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05299351963639492717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564155214348055642.post-10213739932858263642010-01-21T16:40:29.047-08:002010-01-21T16:40:29.047-08:00baron . . . My apologies! 'Didn't know yo...baron . . . My apologies! 'Didn't know you were there . . . next time I'll try to take notice.<br /><br />gadflygadflyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13191372920897029941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564155214348055642.post-14191933667474225072010-01-21T16:32:08.739-08:002010-01-21T16:32:08.739-08:00Final thoughts, before I go home and get ready to ...Final thoughts, before I go home and get ready to travel a couple hundred miles tomorrow morning, to attend the Saturday memorial service, for my “black” brother Sam, who was called home “on the table” last Saturday . . . he was one of “three” of my generation, with whom I was close friends . . . my oldest son is to bring the final words at his service. Another went home about three years ago . . . one more, a ship mate on our first “sub” . . . we keep in regular touch by email.<br /><br />‘Looking for equality, for fairness, for some rule to apply in comparison in “income”, etc., as a scale on which to value “happiness” or contentment. You won’t find it . . . it simply does not exist, because such things have no earthly standard. You’re looking in the wrong location. And, like in my previous comments, should you find “happiness”, where does that leave you? We won’t beat the dead horse!<br /><br />Life is a precious gift . . . don’t forget that term, “gift”, and not a “right”. A gift is something precious . . . not earned, but valuable, paid for by the “giver” (you figure that one out . . . I already have). The greatest honor you may bestow on the giver of a gift, is to use that gift . . . and the “using” of the gift is an expression of “thanks” to the Giver. Do you get my drift?<br /><br />Yes, at this point, the “gadfly” would like to give an entire message on deep things . . . but I’m a “guest” here, and not at liberty to speak further.<br /><br />‘Y’all have a great weekend . . . as we either travel on dry highways, south, or plow through this major storm that has already hit “Flagstaff”, and is working it’s way, our way. <br /><br />At my age, I no longer get the “thrill” of driving a couple thousand miles across the nation. “Back then”, it was endless miles of “white knuckle terror”, on two-lane highways, with the sparkle of broken beer bottles reflecting star light, fifty feet apart, showing the borders of “US 66", left and right, and wondering if we could get around that semi-truck in front of us, before the yellow headlamps of an approaching car would appear over the next rise in the highway. Yep . . . those were the days, my friend . . . we thought they’d never end!<br /><br />Hasta luego!<br /><br />gadfly<br /><br />(Another comment: My oldest son has the “memorial service” on Saturday . . . he already “preached” the Sunday Service in place of our dear departed and close friend. Sunday night, on the way to another service, my son and family were road-blocked at the end of the road that leads to the highway . . . a teenager, friend of our grand-kids, took his own life, in spite of attempts to save him by Sheriff’s deputies. A way was found for the family to get to the “cowboy fireside” service in town, where our son had the evening service. <br /><br />Today, Thursday, our son speaks at the service of the young man, age sixteen, who “had no hope”. [His mother was too "bombed out" to even remember his 16th birthday, etc.]<br /><br />This coming Saturday, he speaks at the service of our dear friend, “one of three black folks in the county”, that had that “Joy” and “Peace”. My oldest son has pressures that most would avoid at any cost . . . yet, in all this, he has the joy and peace of doing exactly what he was born to do. How does this relate to hourly wage, or future financial security? Oh, and by the way . . . my oldest son is not a pastor . . . he’s the superintendent of schools, but just called on to “fill in”, as it were, because in either case, it’s a ministry, coupled with Joy. Bottom line, here, whether you’re an underpaid(?) teacher, A&P mechanic, or executive in a major corporation, you better decide early whether you want the quick fix of “happiness”, or the everlasting “Joy” that doesn’t come in the form of a paycheck.)gadflyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13191372920897029941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564155214348055642.post-87700852130043358032010-01-21T16:30:24.926-08:002010-01-21T16:30:24.926-08:00Oh, my. Just pointing out the straight math that 2...Oh, my. Just pointing out the straight math that 2 hard working ppl making the minimum wage in Santa Fe pull in $60K/year...<br /><br />And I get parenting advice in return!!!<br /><br />Wow!!!<br /><br />How about the cash for flying clunkers proposal?<br /><br />Proportionally, Wichita has been devastated more than Detroit. Yet, the UAW got not only a bailout (they now own GM and Chrysler), but customers got C4C.<br /><br />So, how about C4FC?Baron95https://www.blogger.com/profile/01421355643916832199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564155214348055642.post-53253084760687398132010-01-21T16:09:37.382-08:002010-01-21T16:09:37.382-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.gadflyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13191372920897029941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564155214348055642.post-53120000269677406242010-01-21T14:59:09.341-08:002010-01-21T14:59:09.341-08:00This isn’t about “one-up-man-ship”, but a recognit...This isn’t about “one-up-man-ship”, but a recognition of some realities.<br /><br />Back in “A&P” and “Flight School”, I put in eighty to 100 hours a week, in school, flying, and working (as a machinist) to support my family (wife and two little boys). Airsafetyman had it right . . . it cannot be sustained. It took me about three years to recover physically and mentally from those days.<br /><br />Fast forward a few years . . . age 29, “new business”, in middle of building two story house, with hand dug basement (about 400 cubic yards, 2/3 rock . . . and I paid dearly for that effort) . . . eighty hours, plus, per week “at the shop”, losing about $2.80 per hour . . . took a full five years to make people take us seriously, and for numbers to go from “red” to “black” (barely). Again, reality catches up . . . and sixty hours per week looks like a vacation in a suite at the Turtle Bay Hilton on Oahu (been there, done that . . . and very nice, to be sure).<br /><br />But there is an “up side” to all this. Many years, two hernia repairs, two balloon angioplasties, quintuple bypass surgery, . . . rheumatoid arthritis (not helped by hundreds of “Dive, Dive. . . Clear the bridge” down steel ladders on the “sub” . . . probably two inches shorter for the effort) . . . the “four kids” all got through top colleges without debt (and four marriages, come to think of it . . . daughters are expensive) . . . and an entire list of other benefits, including nineteen grandkids . . . none in trouble, oldest in Submarine School . . . and some other things outside the present discussion.<br /><br />Life is not for the “faint of heart”, nor for those that think that someone owes them . . . even a “minimum wage”. Who said?<br /><br />Here I am at “72" . . . looking forward to maybe building “one more house”, to be near our kids . . . the property is bought, the well is dug, the power is in . . . haven’t had a paycheck for three plus years . . . but no complaints. My wife tells me that “Social Security” pays money into our checking account each month . . . ‘never seen a bank statement, but her word confirms it. And I may scale down to forty hours per week in another year or so . . . down under about fifty hours, at present. “How to build the new house without a loan”, and “how to sell the present house” . . . and make the transition?! Problems, problems . . . and why am I not worried?! Must be something going on here that doesn’t involve figuring out what is “fair”, or that someone owes me something.<br /><br />Bottom line: Most folks want “happiness” . . . and nothing wrong with that, so long as you understand that “happiness” is like a full stomach . . . in a few hours you’re going to be hungry again. And you have to go looking for the next meal. You see, happiness depends on "conditions". (The Lord had much to say about such things.)<br /><br />But there’s a better thing: The Bible speaks of “Joy” . . . a contentment that doesn’t depend on the “next meal”, or how many hours a person works, etc., etc. "Joy" depends on "Who's in charge, regardless of conditions."<br /><br />Something was said to some people, working day and night during the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the “Temple” . . . you can all look it up, if you wish: “May the Joy of the Lord be your strength.” That’s for me. (Hint: Nehemiah 8:10c . . . apologies to those that don't like the Bible.)<br /><br />Maybe we can look not only at the “amount” of time “at the job”, but consider the “motive” of doing the job in the first place. Most folks seem to be “putting in their time”, until released from prison, while others “labor” at their “work”, because of the pleasure of their accomplishments. My question has always been, “Why work at something you find a daily drudgery for most of your life, so you can retire for a few years, when your body can no longer do all the things you wished to do, when you were young enough, and strong enough, to do them?!”<br /><br />To me, work is a gift from God . . . He did it first . . . created me in His image . . . and I like the system!<br /><br />gadflygadflyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13191372920897029941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564155214348055642.post-51719495385004743792010-01-21T05:22:05.758-08:002010-01-21T05:22:05.758-08:00"A hard working person will work say 60 hrs/w..."A hard working person will work say 60 hrs/week (a light week for me)." <br /><br />As one who has worked 60 to 70 hours a week at times it cannot be done on a sustained basis, unless you are counting the hours sitting in business class playing solitare on your laptop. If your work/life balance is that far out of kilter you need to reintroduce yourself to your family. Hint: they don't need to fly to Martha's Vinyard on Daddy's Awesome Jet; taking the ferry and actually having a father around will be just fine.airsafetymanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07923869957339462116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564155214348055642.post-67886998080292006412010-01-21T01:58:19.686-08:002010-01-21T01:58:19.686-08:00And I agree with Baron, that a person can live on ...And I agree with Baron, that a person <i>can</i> live on $20-30K per year, it's just that too many are doing so, that shouldn't have to be. I'm grateful they can, but annoyed they must.bill e. goathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16258371211154585137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564155214348055642.post-21050239023473539902010-01-21T01:53:11.055-08:002010-01-21T01:53:11.055-08:00"but that standard of living and spending pow...<i>"but that standard of living and spending power is still greater than 90% of the world's population."</i><br /><br />The issue isn't that the working poor are living better than people in Haiti, it's that social mobility is on the decline in the US.<br /><br />In 1981, the <a href="http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0774473.html" rel="nofollow">federal minimum wage</a> was $3.35.<br /><br />In 2006, that would have been $7.43 after <a href="http://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc.pl" rel="nofollow">adjustments for inflation</a>, but instead, the <a href="http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0774473.html" rel="nofollow">actual minimum wage</a> in 2006 was $5.15, a decline of 31%.<br /><br />Now the federal minimum wage is up to $7.25, but that same 1981 $3.35 would be inflation-adjusted to $7.91 now; a decline of 8 %. More significantly, when I attended college pre-Reagan, the state provided nearly 2/3 of the funding. Now the students pay over half, and the state 1/4 (private donations make up the rest). And lab courses have been cut. And the students per class has doubled.<br /><br />When I graduated from college, I was burdened with a federal debt of 33% GDP, and it had been going down for decades.<br /><br />Now kids inherit a federal debt of three times that. Wreckless tax cuts and unfunded spending programs have wrecked the economy even more than deregulated "free market" financial institution oversight.<br /><br />We have been living off our children's future, and our parent's past. Greed and willful ignorance has been the new faux* (/FOX?) religion, ushered in by Ronald Reagan. He made us feel good about ourselves. <br /><br />If we <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US_Debt_Trend.svg" rel="nofollow">deliberately ignored reality</a>.<br /><br />I'm not mad at the Republican party, nor the Democratic party- I'm mad at the public, for being so willing to be manipulated and uncritically lapping up preposterous nonsense, and being giddy with smug glee while doing so.<br /><br />That's my two (make that 25) cents worth, anyway.bill e. goathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16258371211154585137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6564155214348055642.post-92130316440059947102010-01-21T00:10:14.505-08:002010-01-21T00:10:14.505-08:00"A hard working person will work say 60 hrs/w...<i>"A hard working person will work say 60 hrs/week"</i><br /><br />Most employers are barely employing, let alone paying for workers to do 50% overtime. But part-time second job can sometimes be found. So let's say, working 60 hours bags $30K per year. Taxes are no longer insignificant; figure with the home deduction, around $2500 <a href="http://www.moneychimp.com/features/tax_brackets.htm" rel="nofollow">federal</a>, $800 for <a href="http://swz.salary.com/salarywizard/layouthtmls/swzl_statetaxrate_NM.html" rel="nofollow">NM</a> state taxes, and an additional $765 for SS&Medicare, say an additonal $4000 in expenses, so $6000 is extra take-home per year, or $500 per month. <br /><br />What might one do? That would facilitate medical insurance for $250 per month or so, with maybe a $2500 deductible. Which would leave $6000-$250x12-$2500= $500 per year extra takehome. Of course the second job would require extra clothing, extra laundry, extra gas for the car, etc. But I'd say the medical insurance would make it worth while.<br /><br />Or, one could go to college instead. That $6K might buy the books and a computer, and tuition at a state college. The 60 hour work week is going to make relatively impractical, and finding flexible employers around minimum wage jobs is tough.<br /><br /><i>"With an equally hard working spouse/partner/roomate/etc"</i><br /><br />With a spouse/partner, there is often extra income. And more significantly, often children. Wanta find a baby sitter for 60 hours per week, on a $10 per hour job?<br /><br />And now we're really talking about health insurance. How many $10 per hour jobs offer that?<br /><br />School expenses? Medical bills? Braces? Clothes? <br /><br />Not to worry- like I said, that 25 cents per day can be made to go a long way. So can feeding a family on $5 per day. (I don't mean that to be flippant, just illustrative).bill e. goathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16258371211154585137noreply@blogger.com